Review

In this world, there exists unspeakable evil. Sometimes it comes in the form of human beings who prey on other human beings. Of course, they don’t see themselves as evil; they see themselves as simply superior. One such human being is Fedir Kuchin.

Two distinctly different factions are after this man for two distinctly different reasons. Neither of them knows about the other…until they meet in a charming little village in Provence. Their target? A monster who killed a multitude of innocent men, women and children, and enjoyed doing it. While that time is long past, the monster still enjoys killing.

Years ago, Kuchin was a high-ranking officer in the KGB. He excelled so much partly because he was very good at torture, and this is mostly because he loved his job. But that’s all ancient history. When the Nazis’ reign came to its welcome end, Kuchin fled Germany in favor of Canada, where he changed his name to Evan Waller and became an extremely successful and rich man. If only that were enough for him. Instead, Waller wants more. Always more. He thrives on challenges, much like he thrives on other people’s pain.

Now along comes a covert agent named Shaw, recovering from his last assignment that didn’t go quite according to plan and facing his newest one: “extract” Waller while he is on holiday in the tiny picturesque town of Gordes in Provence. Why there? Because he will be more exposed with less security to protect him, and that pushes the odds of success more in Shaw’s favor.

At the same time, another group is hatching plans to neutralize Waller in their own way. They are a curious mix of scholars and mercenaries, doing what they do for the good of mankind. Highly educated and motivated, they have studied history and traced some of the world’s worst butchers who ever terrorized Europe. One of the group’s members, Reggie Campion, had her own, very personal reasons for joining them. And they were good, virtuous ones. So why does she have nagging doubts about the work she does?

It is, of course, inevitable that Shaw and Reggie would meet. They are both in Gordes and staying as close to Waller as they believe they safely can. With Waller, too close can be fatal, as Reggie and Shaw soon find out. A man with well-developed instincts to match his cruelty, Waller shapes up as a formidable opponent. Outsmarting him proves far more difficult than anyone had imagined. Add in the distraction of an electric physical attraction between Reggie and Shaw, and the operation teeters seriously on the brink of failure. Everyone involved faces acute jeopardy. When the smoke clears, there will be more than one body to dispose of.

DELIVER US FROM EVIL, a sequel to 2008’s THE WHOLE TRUTH, is packed with David Baldacci’s signature pulse-quickening action. From the first page to the last, the pace keeps ratcheting up until it finally comes to a smashing end. This is one thriller not to be missed.